Power tools and power tools platform

ABSTRACT

A power tool system includes a removable battery pack a first tool and a second tool. The first tool includes a first base housing that is selectively engageable with the removable battery pack and a first tool portion connected to the first base housing by a first connecting section. The second tool includes a second base housing that is selectively engageable with the removable battery pack and a second tool portion connected to the second base housing by a second connecting section. The second tool base housing houses a second controller that provides a proportional power delivery system for the second tool and second tool base housing also includes a second actuator for providing user control of the second tool.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/942,609, filed on Sep. 12, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 17/515,921, filed on Nov. 1, 2021, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/941,154, filed on Jul. 28,2020, which claims priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/884,309, filed on Aug. 8, 2019, the entire contents of each arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to power tools and a platform for variouspower tools.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a power tool system, toolsfor the power tool system and tools having a base, a battery pack and atool. According to an aspect, there is an exemplary embodiment of apower tool system, the system including a removable battery pack. Thesystem further includes a first tool, the first tool including a firstbase housing that is selectively engageable with the removable batterypack and a first tool portion connected to the first base housing by afirst connecting section. The first tool base housing houses a firstcontroller that provides a proportional power delivery system for thefirst tool. The first tool base housing further comprises a firstactuator for providing user control of the first tool. The systemfurther includes a second tool, the second tool including a second basehousing that is selectively engageable with the removable battery packand a second tool portion connected to the second base housing by asecond connecting section. The second tool base housing houses a secondcontroller that provides a proportional power delivery system for thesecond tool. The second tool base housing further comprises a secondactuator for providing user control of the second tool.

The first tool base housing may further house a first circuit board andthe first controller is mounted on the first circuit board.

The second tool base housing may further house a second circuit boardand the second controller is mounted on the second circuit board.

The battery pack may be inserted into the first tool base housing alonga first plane.

The first circuit board may be disposed in a first circuit board planewhich is substantially parallel to the first plane.

The battery pack may be inserted into the second tool base housing alonga second plane.

The second circuit board may be disposed in a second circuit board planewhich is substantially parallel to the second plane.

The first actuator may have the same configuration as the secondactuator.

The first circuit board may have the same configuration as the secondcircuit board.

The first controller may provide the proportional power delivery in therange of 80 W to 120 W pulse-width-modulation and the second controllerprovides the proportional power delivery in the range of 80 W to 120 Wpulse-width-modulation.

The first controller and the second controller may provide the sameproportional power delivery.

The first tool may be a rotary tool and the second tool may be asoldering tool.

The first connecting section may comprise a cord.

The battery pack may serve as a weighted base for the first tool.

According to another aspect, there is an exemplary embodiment of a powertool system, the system comprising a removable battery pack and a firsttool. The first tool includes a first base housing that is selectivelyengageable with the removable battery pack and a first tool portionconnected to the first base housing by a first cord. The first tool basehousing houses a first controller that provides a proportional powerdelivery system for the first tool. The first tool base housing furthercomprises a first actuator for providing user control of the first tool.The system further includes a second tool, the second tool including asecond base housing that is selectively engageable with the removablebattery pack and a second tool portion connected to the second basehousing by a second cord. The second tool base housing houses a secondcontroller that provides a proportional power delivery system for thesecond tool. The second tool base housing further comprises a secondactuator for providing user control of the second tool.

The first tool base housing may further house a first circuit board andthe first controller is mounted on the first circuit board.

The second tool base housing may further house a second circuit boardand the second controller may be mounted on the second circuit board.

The battery pack may be inserted into the first tool base housing alonga first direction or plane. The first circuit board may be disposed in afirst circuit board plane which is substantially parallel to the firstplane.

The first circuit board may have the same configuration as the secondcircuit board.

The first controller may provide the proportional power delivery in therange of 80 W to 120 W pulse-width-modulation and the second controllerprovides the proportional power delivery in the range of 80 W to 120 Wpulse-width-modulation.

The first controller and the second controller may provide the sameproportional power delivery.

The first tool may be a rotary tool and the second tool may be asoldering tool.

The battery pack may serve as a weighted base for the first tool.

These and other aspects of various embodiments of the present invention,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. In one embodiment of the invention, the structuralcomponents illustrated herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration and description only and are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the invention. In addition, it should be appreciatedthat structural features shown or described in any one embodiment hereincan be used in other embodiments as well. As used in the specificationand in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” includeplural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

All closed-ended (e.g., between A and B) and open-ended (greater than C)ranges of values disclosed herein explicitly include all ranges thatfall within or nest within such ranges. For example, a disclosed rangeof 1-10 is understood as also disclosing, among other ranged, 2-10, 1-9,3-9, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of embodiments of the present invention aswell as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made tothe following description which is to be used in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a battery pack and common basefeatures according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rotarytool;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a glue gun;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a solderingiron;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lamp light;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fan; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic of a battery pack, base and tool according to anexemplary embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a power tool system. Thepower tool system includes a variety of tools that utilize a commonbattery pack 100. The battery pack 100 is a removable power tool batterypack and may be of the type shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.7,598,705; 7,661,486; or U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2018/0331335. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,598,705; 7,661,486; and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2018/0331335 are hereby incorporated byreference.

Each tool in the power tool system of the exemplary embodiment alsoincludes a common base 200. Each tool then is built incorporating thiscommon base 200. For example, the specific tools may include a rotarytool 400, as shown in FIG. 2 ; a hot glue gun 500, as shown in FIG. 3 ;a soldering iron 600, as shown in FIG. 4 ; a lamp light 700, as shown inFIG. 5 ; or a fan 800, as shown in FIG. 6 . Each of these tools is alsopowered by a battery pack 100.

FIG. 1 illustrates components of the base 200. FIG. 1 is a partiallyexploded view and one half of a housing 201 of the common base 200 isremoved to illustrate internals. As is shown in FIG. 1 , the common base200 comprises a housing 201. The housing 201 is removably attachable tothe power tool battery pack 100. There is an actuator 205 on the frontof the housing 201. The actuator 205 may be used to turn on or off oneof the variety of tools. For example, the actuator 205 may be used toturn on or off the rotary tool 400, lamp light 700, fan 800, etc. In theexemplary embodiment, the actuator 205 is a rotatable knob, but otheractuators are possible. The actuator 205 may provide a variable input.For example, turning the knob more may increase the speed or intensityof the tool. For example, the knob may be used to control the fan 800rotation or rotary tool 400 rotation at different speeds. Similarly, theknob may control the intensity of the light for the lamp light 700. Inother embodiments the actuator 205 could simply turn a tool on and off.Additionally, the actuator 205 may in some tools serve only as an on andoff actuator and in other tools provide different settings, such asdifferent speed or intensity settings.

The housing 201 also houses a circuit board 220 including a controller221. The controller 221 can provide a proportional 100 W (watts) PWM(pulse-width-modulation) power delivery system that allows for thesetting of speed, temperature control, lighting control or fan speed,depending upon the particular tool. The proportionalpulse-width-modulation power delivery may be in the range of 80 W to 120W. pulse-width-modulation power delivery may be in the range of 50 W to150 W. The circuit board 220 may be a printed circuit board. Thecontroller 221 may include a microprocessor. There may be a memory 222on the circuit board 220 and the controller 221 may itself have a memorycomponent. Other components may also be mounted on the circuit board 220such as sensors, resistors or charge and discharge controls. The circuitboard 220, controller 221, memory 222 and the providedpulse-width-modulation power delivery may be the same for each of thetools. That allows the same design to be used for a variety of differenttools 400, 500, 600, 700, 800. Each of the tools 400, 500, 600, 700, 800has a base that is similar to the common base 200.

As is further shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 201 includes a recess 210.When used for some tools, the recess can hold a stamped aluminum tray250 for holding a solder sponge or other component. Additionally, thehousing 201 has a pivot projection 202 which allows pivoting attachmentto various tools. The pivot projection 202 attaches to tool arm rest300. The tool arm rest 300 may be used to hold a variety of differenttools. In other embodiments, the pivot projection 202 may attach to analternate tool holder 350. In other embodiments there are additionaltool specific features, such as a tool rest 320.

As shown in FIGS. 2-6 , the battery pack 100 serves as a weighted basefor each of the tools 400, 500, 600, 700, 800. The battery pack 100 maybe placed on a stable surface, such as a flat horizontal surface made bya table or floor and remain in place. The tools 400, 500, 600, 700, 800each have working portions which can be remote from the battery pack 100and the respective bases and base housings. The working portions of thetools may be connected to the base, base housings and battery packs 100by a connection section. The connection section may in some instances bea cord, as in the rotary tool 400, glue gun 500 and soldering iron 600.In other instances the connection section may be a movable stand, suchas with the light 700 and the fan 800. In each instance, the commoncontrol hardware and a similar housing can be used to connect to thebattery pack 100 serving as a weighted base of the product. At the sametime, each tool can perform work away from the base and battery pack 100owing to the connection section.

As is shown in FIG. 1 , the battery pack 100 is connected to the base200 in a direction A. The PCB 220 is disposed in a plane parallel to thedirection A. The PCB 220 is also disposed in a plane parallel to abottom of the battery pack 100 and a central major plane of the batterypack 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates the rotary tool 400. The rotary tool 400 is poweredby the removable battery pack 100. The rotary tool 400 has a base 450with a base housing 451. The base housing 451 houses the same componentsas the base housing 201 shown in FIG. 1 . In particular, the basehousing 451 houses a printed circuit board (PCB) 220 on which acontroller 221 and a memory 222 are mounted. The user operated actuator455 is connected to the controller 221 through the PCB 220. As shown inFIG. 2 , the rotary tool 400 is connected to the base housing 451 by acord 401 which carries power to the rotary tool 400. The cord 401 allowsthe rotary tool 400 to be used and positioned remote from the basehousing 451 and in a variety of orientations.

FIG. 3 illustrates the glue gun 500. The glue gun 500 is also powered bythe removable battery pack 100. The glue gun 500 has a base 550 with abase housing 551. The base housing 551 houses the same components as thebase housing 201 shown in FIG. 1 . In particular, the base housing 551houses a printed circuit board (PCB) 220 on which a controller 221 and amemory 222 are mounted. The user operated actuator 555 is connected tothe controller 221 through the PCB 220. In this case, the user operatedactuator 555 is on the glue gun housing. As shown in FIG. 3 , the gluegun 500 is connected to the base housing 551 by a cord 501 which carriespower to the rotary tool 500. The cord 501 allows the glue gun 500 to beused and positioned remote from the base housing 551 and in a variety oforientations. The glue gun 500 may rest on tool rest 520.

FIG. 4 illustrates the soldering iron 600. The soldering iron 600 ispowered by the removable battery pack 100. The soldering iron 600 has abase 650 with a base housing 651. The base housing 651 houses the samecomponents as the base housing 201 shown in FIG. 1 . In particular, thebase housing 651 houses a printed circuit board (PCB) 220 on which acontroller 221 and a memory 222 are mounted. The user operated actuator655 is connected to the controller 221 through the PCB 220. In thiscase, the user operated actuator 655 controls the temperature of thesoldering iron 600. As shown in FIG. 4 , the soldering iron 600 isconnected to the base housing 651 by a cord 601 which carries power tothe soldering iron 600. The housing 651 includes a recess for a sponge653. The cord 601 allows the soldering iron 600 to be used andpositioned remote from the base housing 651 and in a variety oforientations. The soldering iron 600 is shown in FIG. 4 resting in atool rest 620. The tool rest 620 is pivotably attached to the basehousing 651.

FIG. 5 illustrates the lamp light 700. The lamp light 700 is powered bythe removable battery pack 100. The lamp light 700 has abase 750 withabase housing 751. The base housing 751 houses the same components asthe base housing 201 shown in FIG. 1 . In particular, the base housing751 houses a printed circuit board (PCB) 220 on which a controller 221and a memory 222 are mounted. The user operated actuator 755 isconnected to the controller 221 through the PCB 220. The user operatedactuator 755 can turn the light on and off and adjust the brightness ofthe light 700. As shown in FIG. 5 , the lamp light 700 includes acollapsible stand 701 for changing the orientation of the light givenoff by the lamp light 700.

FIG. 6 illustrates the fan 800. The fan 800 is powered by the removablebattery pack 100. The fan 800 has a base 850 with a base housing 851.The base housing 851 houses the same components as the base housing 201shown in FIG. 1 . In particular, the base housing 851 houses a printedcircuit board (PCB) 220 on which a controller 221 and a memory 222 aremounted. The user operated actuator 855 is connected to the controller221 through the PCB 220. The user operated actuator 855 can turn the fan800 on and off and control the speed of rotation of the fan 800. Asshown in FIG. 6 , the fan 800 includes a pivoting stand 801 for changingthe orientation of the fan 800. The pivoting stand 801 includes twopivots 802 and 803.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the battery pack 100, base 450,550, 650, 750, 850 and the various tools 400, 500, 600, 700, 800. Asshown, the battery pack 100 is connected to the controller 221. Asdiscussed above, the controller 221 provides a PWM power delivery to thetools 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, such as a tool specific component 900.The tool specific component 900 varies depending on the particular tool.For example, the tool specific component 900 may be a motor in the eventof the rotary tool 400 and the fan 800. The motor would be driven todrive the rotary tool 400 or the fan blades of the fan 800. In the caseof the lamp light 700, the tool specific component 900 may be one ormore light-emitting-diodes (LEDs). The LEDs are driven by the powersupplied by the controller 221 from the battery pack 100 to produce thelight of the lamp light 700. For the glue gun 500 and the soldering iron600, the tool specific component 900 may be a heating element such as aresistive heating element. As will be appreciated, the heating elementwill provide the heat for melting the glue for the glue gun 500 orallowing soldering by the soldering iron 600.

In addition to the tools shown in FIGS. 2-6 , other small detail toolsmay be part of the system. For example, small die grinders, chisels,polishers and reciprocating knives.

As will be appreciated, the removable battery pack 100 is a power toolbattery pack. Accordingly, the battery pack 100 may also power otherpower tools including larger tools such as a drill, impact driver,circular saw, etc. which may not share the common base, electronics andconnection section as the embodiments of the present application.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood thatsuch detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intendedto cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to beunderstood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extentpossible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined withone or more features of any other embodiment.

Additionally, while the exemplary embodiment is described with respectto an oscillating tool, the methods and configurations may also apply toor encompass other power tools such as other tools holding accessories.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan comprising: a tool base including a toolbase housing; a battery pack removably connected to the tool base, thebattery pack configured to serve as a weighted base for placement on astable surface; a fan section; a connection section connecting the toolbase to the fan section.
 2. The fan of claim 1, wherein the fan sectionincludes fan blades rotatably driven by a motor.
 3. The fan of claim 2,wherein the fan section is pivotable relative to the tool base.
 4. Thefan of claim 1, further comprising an actuator on the tool base.
 5. Thefan of claim 4, wherein the actuator is a variable speed actuator. 6.The fan of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board disposedin the tool base housing.
 7. The fan of claim 6, further comprising acontroller on the printed circuit board; and wherein the fan sectioncomprises a motor; wherein the controller is configured to providepulse-width-modulation power to the motor; wherein the controller isconfigured to provide proportional power delivery in a range of 80 Wattsto 120 Watts.
 8. The fan of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit boardis disposed in a plane generally parallel to a bottom of the batterypack.
 9. The fan of claim 1, wherein the tool base is disposed adjacentto the battery pack.
 10. The fan of claim 9, wherein the tool base isdisposed generally parallel to the battery pack.
 11. The fan of claim 1,wherein the tool base largely overlaps the battery pack.
 12. A fancomprising: a tool base including a tool base housing; a battery packremovably connected to the tool base, the battery pack configured toserve as a weighted base for placement on a stable surface; a fanworking section comprising a motor and fan blades rotatably driven bythe motor; a connection section connecting the tool base to the fanworking section.
 13. The fan of claim 12, wherein the fan workingsection is pivotable relative to the tool base.
 14. The fan of claim 13,further comprising an actuator on the tool base.
 15. The fan of claim14, wherein the actuator is configured to turn the fan on and off and tocontrol a speed of rotation.
 16. The fan of claim 12, further comprisinga printed circuit board disposed in the tool base housing; and acontroller on the printed circuit board; wherein the printed circuitboard is disposed in a plane generally parallel to a bottom of thebattery pack; wherein the controller is configured to providepulse-width-modulation power to the motor; and wherein the controller isconfigured to provide proportional power delivery in a range of 80 Wattsto 120 Watts.
 17. The fan of claim 16, wherein the tool base is disposedgenerally parallel to the battery pack.
 18. A fan comprising: a toolbase comprising a tool base housing; a battery pack removably connectedto the tool base, the battery pack configured to serve as a weightedbase for placement on a stable surface; a fan working section comprisinga motor and fan blades rotatably driven by the motor; a connectionsection connecting the tool base to the fan working section; wherein,when the battery pack is placed on a flat stable surface, the tool baseis above the battery pack, the connection section is configured to beabove the tool base, and the fan working section is configured to beabove the connection section.
 19. The fan of claim 18, wherein the fanworking section is pivotable relative to the tool base.
 20. The fan ofclaim 19, further comprising an actuator on the tool base; wherein theactuator is configured to turn the fan on and off and to control a speedof rotation.